Scruit Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 2011 Wee, 11k miles, this is the second set of tires on the bike. I think about 2 or 3 k miles on this tire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 That ain't right...I'd check and make sure your back wheel is on the swinger straight first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScubaCinci Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 Either that or you are making A LOT of left turns! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 Yeah... measure center of axle to center of swing arm bolt on both sides, should be within 1/8". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMMW Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 Tire wear is indirectly proportionate to the amount of time you spend washing your bike and aligning your rear axle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruit Posted October 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 (edited) I tried measuring the leading edge of the wheel itself against both sides of the swingarm and the "passenger" side is much closer, but I can't tell if that's because the swingarm is not symmetrical, or the wheel is twisted. There's no side/side play in the wheel at all. Edited October 17, 2014 by Scruit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruit Posted October 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 Yeah... measure center of axle to center of swing arm bolt on both sides, should be within 1/8". Will measure when I get home. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruit Posted October 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 I'm assuming the tire is toast, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadTrainDriver Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 (edited) Have you been praying that it'll fix itself? If not, it might help. Edited October 17, 2014 by BadTrainDriver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpoppa Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 Either that or you are making A LOT of left turns!Have you been racing in NASCAR? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Z. Heimer Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4Dw2RZlUoUY&autoplay=1You can make tool out of a coat hanger and wire tie. Inquiring minds want to know....tire pressure you run and how even the alignment marks are on each side of the swing arm? Also do you have one side pannier loaded heavier than the other? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 You can make tool out of a coat hanger and wire tie. Inquiring minds want to know....tire pressure you run and how even the alignment marks are on each side of the swing arm? Also do you have one side pannier loaded heavier than the other?Or if you have elephantitis of the left leg...or keep horseshoes in your pocket... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruit Posted October 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 Or if you have elephantitis of the left leg...or keep horseshoes in your pocket... My balls hang over the left side of the seat. Could that be it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruit Posted October 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 The axle bolt on the chain side is 1/4" closer to the swingarm pivot bolt than the other side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Z. Heimer Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 I have to say that this guy cover all the bases pretty good. Having dowels machined is a great idea and would be awesome if you could have it done on the cheap but not necessary. A rod type setup like in the other video could be utilized. Personally I have never had issues with utilizing the marks on the swing arm. They may have not been perfect but never caused a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruit Posted October 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 (edited) Very strange. I went out and found the alignment marks. Dead on. EDIT: Home-made gauge is not giving consistent results. Will just see if I can buy a gauge from IP when I get the new tire. Edited October 18, 2014 by Scruit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Z. Heimer Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 Pauly may have the answer. Your post 15 and 18 are somewhat confusing. Then again being a Brit....too many round a bouts. Strange.....same tire??Yes indeed if marks line up as post 18 and axle is off as in post 15 could be spacers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruit Posted October 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 Alignment marks are spot on but my homemade alignment tool seems to show it's 1/4" too closer on the "driver side" "Driver side" "Passenger Side" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 Scrap it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruit Posted October 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 The tire is being replaced now at IP and I got an alignment tool for when I put it back together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruit Posted October 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 Alignment plates are perfect circles. They are symmetrical also - the distance between the edge of the circle and the edge of the plate is 14mm on both sides of the hole on the left (chain) side. On the right (brake) side it's 15mm on both sides of the hole. Neither plate looks worn. The axle was solid when I took it out. The adjuster screw on both sides was a little loose, but the tension of the axle kept it in place. The adjusters on this bike use the same screw to pull the chain tight AND to hold the cosmetic cover on the back of the swingarm the adjusters were both loose so the plates could rattle. I reinstalled the wheel so that there's 3/4" slack in the chain (spec is .8"), the swingarm alignment marks are even, the chain tool is happy and my coathanger alignment gauge is happy too. Is there a way to confirm that the alignment is good before tearing this tire up? Cost me $212 to replace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 Rolling burnout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldschoolsdime92 Posted October 19, 2014 Report Share Posted October 19, 2014 Are you overloading the shock/spring with luggage? That's incredibly odd wear for a straight axle. this was my thought as well.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruit Posted October 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2014 Not overloading. Just myself and sometimes my 10yo. The only luggage I carry is my laptop for work in one side case, and my son's safety gear in the other. Top case has only his helmet in it. Tank bag has a first aid kit and some hand tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReconRat Posted October 19, 2014 Report Share Posted October 19, 2014 (edited) I'm had to resort to methods using 2x4s, strings and tape, or even tried a laser once. Any method to confirm that the rear wheel is squared up and following the front wheel. I think most bikes have both wheels on the same centerline, but some BMWs do not. The front wheel is slightly offset to one side. No clue why. (edit: it's airheads, and some Harleys also. Oops, Kawasaki ZRXs 1200 too.) Normally just lining up the rear wheel with the chain from the engine is good enough. Here's a link to a guy that found his front wheel twisted to one side. They bent it back. Amusing, but it worked.You can see in the first picture that the front triple and wheel don't line up with the rest of the bike.http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=891560 String method: http://www.pegmonkey.com/node/1057 Edited October 19, 2014 by ReconRat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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